When it comes to prayerful confidence, most think in the context of God’s willingness to answer. However, we must keep mindful of our own actions and intentions. To that end, I can’t count the times I’ve failed to make a prayer I told someone I would. Or the times I’ve been less than half-hearted in what I have prayed.
The times I have fallen asleep before I completed my prayers.
To preface our look at Edwards’ 29th resolution, note that, on June 25, 1923, Edwards wrote in his journal:
“It is best to be careful in prayer, not to put up those petitions, of which I do not feel of a sincere desire: thereby, my prayer is rendered less sincere, less acceptable to God, and less useful to myself.”
Though that quote isn’t directly connected to the resolution, I think there’s much that is interconnected and providing of a great backdrop.
Jonathan Edwards Resolution 29
Edwards’ Resolution #29 (in my modernized language) Never to consider praying to or petition of God if I do not genuinely believe God will answer or accept my confession.
Prayerful Confidence that God Hears us and Answers (according to his will)
And we are confident that he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him. And since we know he hears us when we make our requests, we also know that he will give us what we ask for. – 1 John 5:14-15 NLT
In the simplest of terms, this teaching of the Apostle tells us that God does indeed hear our prayers. However, God has not promised he grant what is different than his will. And, if we are really being conformed into the character of Christ, we not want something that goes against what he already knows is right.
So, as Albert Barnes notes, the “according to his will” part of this verse likely implies that:
- There is a range of petitions that may gratify the largest wishes of prayer.
- We are not always good judges, nor can we see as clearly as God does.
- We can’t expect miracles in answering prayers if it is not to be; nor should we seek blessings that violate what he deems right.
- God is God of the universe, and it therefore includes the interests of the whole as well as of the individual.
In prayerful confidence, we seek God’s will, knowing it is just and right. We do so assured of our own pardons and genuinely seeking it for others.
Prayerful Confidence that our Pardon is Assured
My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous. He himself is the sacrifice that atones for our sins—and not only our sins but the sins of all the world. – 1 John 2:1-2 NLT
In Jesus, we have someone who advocates with the Father. He does and is fully able to plead for all who seeks pardon and salvation in his name. This advocacy is available to all persons of all nations and generations. All may come to God. The gospel and the fruits of the spirit conditions their hearts to reject sin and the practice of it. And, at the same time, it relieves the guiltily consciences of sinners.
Living (and Walking) in Faith
God, loving his children as he does, sent Jesus to atone for their guilt and shame. He communes with us as we pray and hears us. He stands in our place. It’s a gift we should receive with humility and respect that he is all-knowing and loving.
And just as Christ advocates for us, we should advocate for the lives of our dear brothers and sisters. Sharing the Gospel with them. Helping them to know ours. Doing so with the prayerful confidence that as we ask, he hears and will answer according to his will.